The Newburyport Choral Society mourns the loss of Joanne (Lowell) Johnson one of our most cherished members who passed away on September 12, 2019. Joanne’s devotion to the Choral Society was boundless, serving as Treasurer and President, the leader of the NCS Development Team, a mentor to her colleagues on the NCS Board, and a singer in the Alto 2 section for 47 years. She was the devoted wife of Ralph Johnson, an equally cherished member who has lent his voice to the tenor section for many years, also served as an NCS President, and continues today as our Logistics Director. Joanne and Ralph were also generous in their financial support as benefactors of NCS. For those who knew Joanne over many years and those who knew her only briefly, she was a shining light, an anchor, and someone who always reflected the highest ideals of the Choral Society. To honor her leadership, service, and commitment to the NCS mission of bringing the best of choral music to the local community, NCS has established a special memorial fund, the Joanne Johnson Memorial Fund which will pay for the First Chair in our orchestras. Thank you for your interest is honoring Joanne.
